The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) hails the announcement of $17.8 million over four years to fund the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy.
The Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Honourable Mark Butler, recently announced the funding and strategy as a practical step towards curbing the high rates of suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Chair of the RACGP’s National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Associate Professor Brad Murphy, said that suicide affects all Australians, but occurs among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at twice the national average.1
“Suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities devastates the families, extended families and communities, and often is the catalyst to more suicide deaths in those left behind.
“The advantage of this dedicated strategy is that it aims to build on the strength and importance of family, community and culture to produce a uniquely Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assessment to such a critical challenge,” said A/Prof Murphy.
Sadly we know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are less likely to seek help from a General Practitioner (GP) or other health professionals than non-indigenous Australians before suicide attempt.2
A/Prof Murphy said that such a disparity in accessing healthcare only further emphasises the need for GP services to be culturally appropriate and welcoming to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The RACGP’s National Guide to preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people provides GPs evidence-based information for the prevention of suicide and the overall preventive health care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“This announcement is another significant step towards, not only Closing the Gap, but to making positive tangible differences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” said A/Prof Murphy.
The RACGP acknowledges the consultative approach of the Australian Government Department of Ageing and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the development of this strategy.
For suicide prevention and crisis support services call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or connect online at www.lifeline.org.au.
References
- www.indigenoussuicideprevention.org.au/images/uploads/resources/Consultation_discussion_paper.pdf
- J, Milner A, De Leo D. Contacts with mental health services before suicide: a comparison of Indigenous
with non-Indigenous Australians. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2011;Dec 8 (Epub ahead of print). Search PubMed